In 2024, 89 "extremist formations" were recognized, including media, a theater troupe, and public organizations.
Currently, there are 257 "extremist formations" recognized by the regime in Belarus, 89 of them were recognized in 2024. Last year, the list included 10 media outlets, coalitions that ran for election to the Coordinating Council, the Free Kupalautsy theater troupe, a number of public organizations and initiatives, and foreign foundations. Since 2021, a total of at least 248 people have been convicted of "creating an extremist formation or participating in it" (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code). As a rule, this article is used together with other criminal articles. Viasna reports what was recognized as an "extremist formation" in 2024.
Since the autumn of 2021, the State Security Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belarus have recognized 257 subjects as "extremist formations". In 2021, as many as 27 positions were recognized in two months, 80 subjects in 2022, 62 in 2023, and last year a record was set: 89.
In 2024, the recognition of "extremist formations" was mostly handled by the State Security Committee, which adopted as many as 56 decisions "on recognizing a group of citizens as an extremist formation and banning its activities." The Ministry of Internal Affairs has made 33 such decisions.
A new development in 2024 was the addition of structural units of previously recognized "extremist formations" and associated individuals to the already recognized "formations." Thus, at the end of the year, the Zerkalo.io and KYKY.org "formations" were "updated".
Viasna human rights defenders have repeatedly drawn attention to the illegality of the procedure for making such decisions:
"Decisions on recognition as "extremist formations" are made out of court by the KGB or the Ministry of Internal Affairs without informing the public of specific grounds for making such decisions. The simplified mechanism for recognizing organizations as "extremist formations", as well as the lack of citizens' access to information and judicial protection mechanisms, jeopardizes any manifestations of self-organization and solidarity of citizens, in response to gross violations of human rights among other things."
Creation and participation in the "extremist formation" is an offense under Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code. Since 2021, a total of at least 248 people have been convicted of "creating an extremist formation or participating in it" (Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code). As a rule, this article is used together with other criminal articles.
In 2024, the "list of organizations, formations, individual entrepreneurs involved in extremist activities" included independent media, Telegram channels and chat rooms, public organizations, and initiatives.
Ten independent media
In 2024, Radio Racyja, DW Belarus, UDF – News of Belarus, Media IQ, Orsha.eu, s13.ru, Pozirk, as well as tik-tok of Zerkalo.io and KYKY.ORG were recognized as "extremist formations".
The website of the Poles of Belarus glosznadniemna.pl was also recognized as an "extremist formation".
The project of former political prisoners
On May 8, Siarhei Piatrukhin and Aliaksandr Kabanau's People's Reporter project was recognized as an "extremist formation." The decision was made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In June 2020, for the activities of Brest bloggers Siarhei Piatrukhin and Aliaksandr Kabanau, they were detained and later sentenced to three years in a penal colony. Both have served their sentences in full and are now continuing their activities abroad.
Theater troupe
On December 13, the Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized the association of former artists of the Kupala theater Free Kupalautsy as an "extremist formation." According to the agency, eight actors and actresses are involved in it. It is reported that the Free Kupalautsy received a new status "for organizing activities to prepare attacks on the sovereignty and public security of the Republic of Belarus, discrediting and insulting officials."
Foreign funds
Last year, two foreign foundations were recognized as "extremist formations": the Fund of Belarus Friend LTD from Estonia and the Fund of Belarus Friends MTU. The agency's decision identifies people allegedly related to the first foundation: Belarusians Aleh Stefanovich and Aliaksandr Syrytsa, as well as Estonian Alan Roya. According to the special service, Estonian citizens Royo Alan and Nigol Kaida are involved in the Fund of Belarus Friends.
Public organizations and initiatives
On January 23, the initiative that helps political prisoners INeedHelpBY was recognized as a "formation." The persecution of INeedHelpBY has become one of the most violent attacks on solidarity ever. The first raid took place in early 2024. The raids targeted ex-political prisoners and relatives of political prisoners who are currently behind bars.
On April 2, an initiative politzek.me received the status of an "extremist formation". The initiative supports Belarusian political prisoners.
On April 8, the Belarusian Medical Solidarity Fund was recognized as an "extremist formation." The agency pointed out that the list of "extremist formations" also includes, quote, "the Polish structural unit of the White Coats."
On May 3, the KGB recognized the Physicians for Truth and Justice initiative as an "extremist group." The organization issued a public statement where it disagreed with the KGB's decision.
At the end of August, the non-profit organization OEEC was recognized as a "formation". According to the agency, Sviatlana Zinkevich, Alesia Hatouchyts, and Valeryia Valkohonava are related to it.
On September 16, the KGB recognized the Belarusian National Youth Council RADA, which includes more than 30 organizations, as an "extremist formation." It also put on the list General Secretary Lizaveta Prakopchyk; Communication (Information Secretary) Katsiaryna Bunina; Chair of the Council Marharyta Voryhava.
At the end of September, the KGB recognized the educational initiative School of Leadership and the project for women Girl Power Bel as "formations". The agency listed the people allegedly involved in the "extremist formation": Hanna Dapshevichute, Veranika Nikalaichyk, Vera Yesipchuk, Anzhalika Vaitsekhovich, and Alina Shautsova.
On October 7, the Interior Ministry recognized the International Committee for the Investigation of Torture in Belarus as an "extremist formation." The document also identifies people allegedly involved in the initiative: Siarhei Ustsinau and Viktoryia Fiodarava.
The next day, the initiative It's Great to be Active (ABF) was recognized as such. Yuliya Mitskevich was named as a person involved. The organization of civic and non-formal education ABF (It's Great to be Active) was founded in Belarus in 2015 as a result of a Belarusian-Swedish project to popularize the methods of Swedish (educational) circles, which began in 2012. In 2021, like most NGOs, ABF was forcibly dissolved and ceased its work in the country, but reopened and continues to operate as a Belarusian organization in Lithuania, Poland, and Georgia.
In November, the KGB recognized a well-known service for sending letters to prisoners, the Internet service pismo.bel, as an "extremist formation." It is currently unavailable in Belarus and abroad. Three residents of Žodzina who, according to the KGB, are related to the pismo.bel initiative were placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center.
The coalition of yard chats
The KGB has recognized Orden, a coalition of yard chats, as an extremist formation.
Iryna Yakauleva, Natallia Daronina, Dziana Haurylava, the head of the organization Susedzi, a citizen of Ukraine Ivan Omelyan are allegedly connected with the formation.
The document also includes "curators (mentors)": Volha Niakhaichyk, Kastus Kirylenka, Lizaveta Plitnik, Natallia Huzhova, Iryna Smaliarova, Stanislau Botvin, Natallia Lantukh.
On January 16, the KOTOS project was recognized as an "extremist formation." These are the bodies of territorial self-government.
Vote counting platforms
In September, the State Security Committee recognized the Golos platform used in 2020 to verify voting results in the presidential election as an "extremist formation." The KGB mentioned Pavel Lieber, the platform creator, as related to this "formation".
In early December, the mobile application Belarus ID was recognized as an "extremist formation". According to the agency, Pavel Liber and Mikhail Ananyin are related to Belarus ID. With the help of this application, people were verified during the elections to the Coordinating Council.
All coalitions that ran for the Coordinating Council are recognized as "extremist formations"
In May 2024, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against 257 people who will participate in the elections to the Coordinating Council.
In May, the KGB recognized 12 lists of candidates who participated in the elections to the Coordinating Council at the end of May as "extremist formations."
